Apokyn Dosage

Your healthcare provider will determine your Apokyn dosage based on several factors, such as how you respond to the medication, other existing medical conditions you have, and other medications you are taking. Your healthcare provider should administer your first dose, so your blood pressure can be closely monitored. If you tolerate the test dose, the recommended starting Apokyn dosage should be 0.2 mL injected under the skin as necessary, up to five times a day.

 

Apokyn Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of Apokyn® (apomorphine hydrochloride) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • How you respond to Apokyn
  • Other medications you are taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
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As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Apokyn Dosing for Parkinson's Disease

A nausea/vomiting medication known as trimethobenzamide (Tigan®) must be started three days before you take your first dose of Apokyn (as Apokyn usually causes very severe nausea and vomiting). Typically, the recommended dose is trimethobenzamide 300 mg three times daily.
 
Your first dose of Apokyn (the "test dose") should be taken under the supervision of your healthcare provider, while you are having an "off" episode. A test dose of 0.2 mL of Apokyn is given, and your healthcare provider will monitor your blood pressure periodically for at least an hour after the dose. If you develop low blood pressure (hypotension) due to the test dose, Apokyn is probably not a good choice for you.
 
If you tolerate the 0.2 mL test dose well (and it is effective for treating your off episode), your starting dose should be Apokyn 0.2 mL injected under the skin as necessary to control off episodes, up to five times a day. Your healthcare provider may increase your Apokyn dosage every few days as necessary, by increments of up to 0.1 mL per dose.
 
If you tolerate the 0.2 mL test dose well but it is not effective at treating your off episode, your healthcare provider may choose to do another test dose after at least two hours, at a higher dosage (such as 0.3 or 0.4 mL).
 
If you have liver or kidney disease, a lower Apokyn dosage may be recommended.
 
(Apokyn Dosage Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;